Pictures Around Cheboygan

Mackinaw Bridge -- from 5 miles away -- it's BIG

A Tug across Duncan Bay with a Sense of Humor

Sophie assuming her favorite position

BD Gillig on Lake Huron shore in front of their home

And Sophie and I further down the Lake shore

Cheboygan and Lake Huron

This is a narrative blog.  I left Charlevoix on Wednesday, June 27th, for the trip around the Straits.  A great day all around -- light winds. clear skies, little or no disturbance at all.

Gee, there must be something going on, since I've never made that passage without comment.

Am in Duncan Bay -- Cheboygan -- waiting til after the fourth of July for a day to cross Lake Huron.  It's warm, breezy, and just delightful.  Wonder what is waiting for us in the North Channel?

Pictures Tomorrow.

Family Reunion in Kansas

As a change of pace this year, I decided to take off in the middle of June for a family reunion in Pomona Kansas -- that's just west of Lawrence, in the rolling hills of eastern Kansas.  Sophie stayed behind in Charlevoix at a local kennel.  A short plane ride to Detroit from Traverse City, then a little longer ride to Kansas City.  Rented a car and drove the two hours to Pomona, where I stayed with cousins Terry and Ed Altic at their farm.  Ed claims he is slowing down, but still raises cattle, plants corn, wheat, and soy beans.  The farm has been in his family for over a hundred years. 


On Saturday, we gathered at the Appanoose School, just south of Ed and Terry's for a gathering of the Jessop clan. The aunts and uncles (that is our mothers and fathers) have all passed away, but the cousins (first, second, and several generations removed) came from around the area to feast on brisket, chicken, hot dogs, salads and sides, and a desert table that certainly could have fed more than us!  Everything was good, and the visiting back and forth helped introduce/re-introduce relatives I hadn't seen in years.  We even heard from one of the Jessops that he had tracked down distant relatives in Ontario last summer.  We counted fifty in attendance, and there are probably another fifty who couldn't make it for one reason or another.  What fun!

 

I also got to attend a couple of evening ball games -- Ed and Terry's grand-daughter and grand son played softball and baseball in Pomona on Friday and Saturday nights.  And, we visited with Terry's sister Jette Lee on Sunday mid-day.

Then back on a plane to return to Charlevoix, where it has been unusually hot and humid -- punctuated with significant thunder storms both Monday and Tuesday.  Today is clear so far, but there is a cold front that is supposed to move through the region tomorrow, so we should have another round of storms.  Hoping to move around to Lake Huron early next week.

Around Charlevoix in Early June

Early June has been days of contrast, hot in the mid-80s for a couple of days -- followed by some spectacular thunder storms and winds.  Then cool and brisk.  Reunited with friends I had met the first year here, Lou and Donna who are residents of Boyne City at the other end of Lake Charlevoix.  Went over to their place on Sunday for dinner and catching up.  Via the Irontown Ferry -- big enough to hold four mid-sized cars and it takes only a few minutes to make the crossing -- but fun none the less.

After the storms came beautiful sunsets at the marina -- it sure makes for a peaceful existence to just sit and stare at the beauty of it all.  Sophie and I don't mind at all! 

heerSpeaking of the dog, she didn't take long to relearn the advantage of the front deck.  When ever she can, she's out there, watching the world go by -- soaking up the sun.  The only sure thing to lure her off the deck is either the offer of cookies or a walk!



The First Few Days in Charlevoix

 Arrived in Charlevoix on June 1st, after four and a half days on I-75 from Lakewood Ranch thru Atlanta.  North to Cincinnati where I stayed with friends Joann and Chuck Mead in their lovely house.  Then onto Grayling, Michigan, which is only 90 minutes south of Charlevoix -- but I know better than to arrive at the boat after a long day.

So the next morning, up with the dawn -- except there wasn't any sun as it had decided to start raining and to get significantly colder -- mid-40's for the high.  Moved minimal stuff including Sophie, food and some miscellaneous things on board.  And hunkered down.  Saturday was the same, only add swarms of midges to the delight of the day.  But, by Sunday afternoon it had started to clear and get a little warmer.  Sunday night there was a full moon over Lake Charlevoix, and Sonador looks almost settled in.

It's Wednesday, and I've officially stored away all the stuff that seemed so essential to bring with us, have done some minor provisioning, visited on the dock with other boaters, and spent just a few pennies downtown.  Today it's supposed to reach the mid-70's! 

Plans right now are to stay here until the week of the 18th of June.  I'm flying to Kansas for a family reunion on the 16th, and after I'm back will search for the elusive weather window to make the trip around the Straits of Mackinac down the western shore of Lake Huron to Cheboygan.  Then stay there for a few days, and then coordinate with fellow Great Lakes Cruising Club members for the journey across Lake Huron and into the North Channel -- there is safety, or at least the sense of it, in numbers!

It is great to be back -- have already consumed two good books on my new Nook, and starting a third, but this in paperback.

Getting Ready for Another Summer

Four days and counting 'til Sophie and I begin the trek north to Sonador.  Sure have a lot more things to do around here to leave than I did up north -- #1, prepare house for possible summer storms/hurricanes by bringing in all the lanai furniture, etc.

Am excited and looking forward to a summer of great fun and adventure.

New Year, New Home!

So, here I am in Sarasota -- that's not me, but the picture was taken during the Siesta Key Sand sculpture Contest earlier in November. A far cry from the ole sandcastles we used to make with our buckets and plastic shovels.

I am in my new home, mostly settled -- at least most of the boxes have been opened and the contents settled someplace in the house. And, I am actually a registered Floridian -- license, plates and my first property taxes paid. The sunshine is spectacular, even when it's brisk like this morning (low 30's).

Am looking forward to catching up with several of my sailing friends who winter in this part of the world, having friends and family visit from up north, spending time getting to know the community, and generally settling into this live of retirement.

More pictures of my environment now that boxes wouldn't be the primary feature.

Sophie loves it -- we are less than a mile from a dog park, there are well lit main roads to walk on later in the evening, and there are rabbits, birds and sand hill cranes, an occasional skunk, and one alligator to keep us on our toes!